2024 Golden State Warriors playoff picture after win vs San Antonio Spurs (March 31): Updated standings, schedule and more

The Golden State Warriors managed to secure a crucial 117-113 victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, bolstering their chances of making it to the play-in games.

Despite being down by 13 points in the first quarter, Golden State rallied and took a commanding lead of 13 points in the fourth quarter. San Antonio seemed to have no chance of coming back. However, the Spurs managed to go on a late 15-4 run, narrowing the Warriors’ lead to 113-111 with just 59.4 seconds left in the game.

With 38.7 seconds remaining, star shooting guard Klay Thompson sealed Golden State’s four-point victory with a dagger 3-pointer, setting the stage for their win.

The top performer for the Warriors was point guard Steph Curry, who recorded 33 points, eight assists, and seven 3-pointers while shooting 52.2%. Additionally, forward Draymond Green had an impressive stat line of 21 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, and six steals while shooting 88.9%.

Furthermore, despite a standout performance from Spurs rookie center Victor Wembanyama, Golden State emerged victorious. The 20-year-old recorded impressive stats of 32 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, three blocks, and three 3-pointers on 45.5% shooting.

Despite not having much room for error, the Warriors’ fourth consecutive win solidified their hold on the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.

With eight games left to play, here’s a quick overview of where Golden State currently stands in the Western Conference playoff rankings.

Golden State Warriors Playoff Picture: Current Standings and Potential Matchups

After defeating San Antonio on Sunday, the Warriors (40-34) continue to hold the tenth spot in the Western Conference standings. They are currently 1.5 games behind the ninth-ranked LA Lakers (42-33) and trail the Sacramento Kings (43-31) and Phoenix Suns (43-31), who hold the seventh and eighth seeds respectively, by a margin of 3.0 games.

Currently, they have a deficit of 5.0 games compared to the sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans (45-29). Therefore, their most probable option would be securing one of the four play-in spots in the Western Conference.

Conversely, the Rockets, currently in 11th place with a record of 38-36, are only behind the 10th-placed Golden State by 2.0 games. Therefore, they are also at risk of failing to qualify for the play-in games.

2021 Golden State Warriors Playoff Schedule

In terms of their outlook for the rest of the season, the Warriors’ remaining strength of schedule ranks at 15th in the NBA, with an average opponent winning percentage of. 491.

Out of Golden State’s remaining eight games, five will be against teams with a winning record. One crucial game will take place on April 4, when they face Houston on the road. A win against the Rockets would greatly contribute to the Warriors’ goal of securing a spot in the top 10.

Golden State Warriors’ Key Player for a Successful Playoff Run

During their four-game winning streak, the Warriors have increased their defensive intensity.

Prior to Sunday, the team had successfully limited three consecutive opponents to scores below 100 points. On Sunday, the Spurs were trailing with less than four minutes remaining until their late-game surge.

In its past four games, Golden State has achieved a defensive rating of 103.9, which is a significant improvement from their season-long rating of 115.0, where they were ranked 16th in the league.

If the Warriors maintain their strong defensive efforts for the remainder of the season, they should be able to successfully defend against the Rockets.